Ref ID : 6078
K.R. Bull, R.D. Roberts, M.J. Inskip, and G.T. Goodman; Mercury concentrations in soil, grass, earthworms and small mammals near an industrial emission source. Environmental Pollution 12:135-140, 1977
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Scarcity of data describing mercury concentrations in the biota of an environment subjected to mercury fallout prompted this study around a chlor-alkali works. Atomic absorption spectrometric analysis of top-soils, grass (Festuca rubra L.), earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.), and atmospheric fallout, within 0.5 km and 10-30 km of the works, showed that mercury levels were significantly higher near the works. Woodmice (Apodemus sylvaticus L.) and bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus Schr.) collected near the works had significantly greater concentrations of total mercury in brain, kidney, liver and hair than control animals. The presence of methylmercury in the mammals and L. terrestris is evidence for methylation of the inorganic mercury fallout.